Tuesday, August 25, 1998 Last modified at 12:25 a.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 1998

NM improves in alcohol-related deaths report

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) - New Mexico improved from worst to third worst in the nation for per-capita alcohol-related deaths last year, new federal figures show.

The state's 10 alcohol-related deaths per 100,000 in 1997 dipped below the 11.79 recorded in 1996. The overall number of New Mexico drunken-driving deaths last year was 173 compared with 202 in 1996.

But the improvement may not last because early numbers show more drunken-driving deaths so far this year than at this point last year, the private non-profit DWI Resource Center warned Monday in Albuquerque.

The state figures are still about double the national rate of 4.75 per 100,000.

Montana was the worst state in 1997 with 11.38 deaths per 100,000 people. Missippi was No. 2 with 10.47.

In the Four Corners area, Arizona had 7.62 deaths per 100,000, Colorado 4.47 and Utah, which also ranked secondbest in the nation, had 2.43.

Elsewhere, Texas had 7.04. And the lowest rate occurred in New York, with 1.84 per 100,000 last year.

New Mexico habitually has been among the worst DWIdeath states.

Does an improvement to No. 3 mean anything?

"It does if we can hold it," said Linda Atkinson, director of the DWI Resource Center.

The key is to make sure there's a steady drop in the death count, she said.

In 1995, the state was secondworst in the nation for alcoholrelated deaths. But it was the worst again in 1996, Atkinson said.

Early 1998 numbers indicate the state may again be on a downturn. Between January and July, 116 of 255 traffic deaths were alcohol-related, Atkinson said.

Last year at this time, 111 of 271 traffic deaths were alcohol-related. The figures are from monthly New Mexico Traffic Safety Bureau reports.

"We're up from where we were last year," Atkinson said.

The 1997 drop might be related to increased anti-alcohol programs at the state level that created more awareness, said James W. Davis, director of government research at the University of New Mexico.

The latest statistics, including New Mexico's drop from No. 1, were computed with help from former state Traffic Safety Bureau chief Steve Flint from census data, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and state traffic reports.

"It's good to lose that top title again," said Flint, now vice president of New Mexico Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).

Atkinson said the downward trend is good, but more must be done.

"I think New Mexico needs to aim for the national average or better. That would make me feel that we are making significant progress," she said.

More checkpoints and increased state participation in the battle against driving while intoxicated are what she wants.

Atkinson's DWI Resource Center is funded by private and corporate donations and by a grant from the city of Albuquerque.

New Mexico's step up occurred before the state closed down drive-up liquor windows in early August.

"I don't believe that (drive-up) windows are the cause of all the DWI problems in the state," said Christina Harrison of the New Mexico Hospitality Retailers Association.

Harrison said many DWI deaths begin with behavior, not necessarily from the window where the liquor is purchased. She said underage drinkers and problem drinkers also play a role.